Termite Numbers Explode Across Queensland How Can You Detect, Prevent and Treat

Warmer weather and humidity caused by the recent rain and flooding in
Queensland in particular Brisbane and Gold Coast saw an early start of the
season against termites in 2011. Queensland experienced the worst flooding
since 1974 flooding in December 2010 and in early
January 2011. These conditions added to the fact that what happened during the
height Queensland was very humid provided the ideal conditions for an explosion
in the number of termites right across the state.

North Queensland was not free a few weeks later, in February Cyclone Yasi hit
it was a disaster for the owners, some losing their homes. If the cyclone is
not your house, then termites. Termites are active at any temperature above 18C
and need moisture to survive. Creating conditions this year have been perfect
for termites.

For termites need a specific environment to thrive and plenty of food, shelter
and water. Most termites live in tropical or subtropical regions. Termites
thrive in these conditions and appear to be more common near the coast.

Like most big cities are coastal Queensland is where we see the greatest invasion
of termites and the most damage. Termites swarm especially during the summer,
which is a clear sign that a termite colony is nearby.

Detect termites

Well first, it's important to be able to recognize the
signs of termites. Also, keep an eye on the dry mud on the joints doors,
architraves and molding termites like to build their mud tunnels where they are
not in sight. The bubbles in the paint doors and feet may indicate that
termites ate the bottom of the timber and leave only a thin ink layer, which
causes blistering. Check wetlands and watch all the water stains on the walls.
Any kind of bulging tile floor or walls and wood chips could point to termites.

So what can owners do to Queensland remain vigilant and protect their homes
from these silent invaders and termites stealth?

Prevent termites

To prevent the entry of termites, you must ensure that
your home and yard are free of anything that can attract termites and also keep
things clean and tidy if they appear can easily see them.

Keep your home clean of all waste, debris and wood lying around. Do not
store firewood or have wood, dead branches and building materials directly on
the floor around your yard. Firewood or wood store, raising the floor on a metal stand or on a concrete
slab. Thus, if termites are a tunnel to access your stored
wood, at least you can see them and stop them in their tracks before entering
your home.

Any building is around your home, such as retaining
walls, terraces, pergolas, flower beds, fences, in fact, wooden structures must
be built with treated wood. For pergolas and decks using metal brackets on the
posts. These metal substrates are then screwed on concrete, wooden poles are
mounted on supports which hold the wooden floor.

If your home is built on a concrete slab, then make
sure that the edge of the slab is visible at all times, as well as drainage
holes. This makes it impossible to see the edge of the slab and if it covers
the drainage holes, then a direct entry point for termites.

Garden mulch is excellent for gardens, but is also ideal for termites. It gives them a source of food and because it is usually not far from his
home termites will graduate from mulch to house very quickly.

You may have noticed termites metal shells that are found around the
foundation of the house.

Termites
need water and moisture that attracts them. Leaky faucets, pipes or pools of
water around your home are an invitation for termites. Fix leaks and drainage
problems to avoid this problem.

Look for cracks or holes around the foundation of your
home and seal them. Termites only need a point of entry so thick as a piece of
paper.

Finally, the best thing all preventive owners can do is
to get your home inspected for termites every year. It is much cheaper to have
regular inspections to find a damaging infestation and not only to have a
complete treatment, but must rebuild and repair any damage. It is not uncommon
for termites to completely destroy the houses to the point of needing a total
rebuild.

Treat
termites

If you
are unfortunate enough to have discovered termites, then you have treated them.
The non-repellent barrier has the advantage of allowing termites and forth
across the barrier, they can not detect that it is there and pick up a lethal
dose that will kill or be taken over and toured the colony .